Monthly Archives: June 2016

Christopher Hamilton published an article at EURWEB about Michael Jackson way back in January 2006. After reviewing “IS IT BECAUSE HE’S BLACK?: What They Don’t Want You to Know About Michael Jackson”, I felt it was appropriate to post it here again. Hamilton states that Michael walked in the shoes that no black man had ever walked […]

Part of my role within Michael’s Dream Foundation is to keep abreast of news related to Michael Jackson. This is something I do on a daily basis; with the aim of sharing interesting articles about him, particularly if they talk about his humanitarian work and his legacy.

Unfortunately; part of that territory are the countless tabloid articles I uncover throughout my research all of which I don’t share. In the 27 years of being a Michael Jackson fan; I have never once shared a tabloid article about him and I certainly don’t intend to do so now. Instead; I will echo what Michael himself used to say – I don’t read them. The fact that it’s written doesn’t necessarily make it “truth.” Truth is; I don’t give these articles any more scrutiny than they deserve. Instead, I ignore them and refuse to draw attention to them. Why would I want to give attention to an article that is clearly littered with ridiculous lies about a man I have followed and researched for many, many years?

But today; I came across an article I could not ignore. I know only too well that Radar Online take great pleasure in posting negative things about Michael; and are like a dog at a bone when it comes to the subject of the child molestation trial in 2005. The fact that Michael was acquitted of ALL charges by a UNANIMOUS verdict seems to go over their heads. Of course they are going to ignore all the concrete facts in the pursuit of increasing and maintaining their readership. Today however; they went too far..

In a disgusting article entitled “ Paedo Proof? Never before seen – Cop Reports Expose Michael Jackson’s Sick Secrets,” they go so far as to say Michael was a “manipulative drug and sex crazed predator.” Throughout the article; they make references to documents which show “filthy photos and videos of men, women, boys and girls in perverted positions” and “ drugs to treat sex addiction, with multiple prescriptions written by a variety of physicians for people close to the star.” The article goes on to say that Michael even used “sexy photos of his own nephews in their underwear to excite young boys.” And according to them “an investigator told Radar” that “the documents expose Jackson as a manipulate sex-and-drug crazed predator who used blood, gore, sexually explicit images of animal sacrifice and perverse adult sex acts to bend children to his will.” Not satisfied with that; the “source” adds; “he also had disgusting and downright shocking images of child torture, adult and child nudity, female bondage and sadomasochism.”

I shall not continue with the offending article in verbatim. The whole thing is distressing, sickening and anger-inducing to the point where any fan would be able to feel their blood reach boiling point.

But as if to add insult to injury; the article then provides a link where you can see this so-called “evidence” for yourself. And why did I find on visiting it? Proof that Radar Online has greatly exaggerated this “evidence” with the aim of slandering Michael and distorting the truth. The pictures depicted on the link are not at all as they are being reported.

So why did this particular article bother me more than others I’ve seen? Indeed; only days before did Radar post an article about Michael’s “bizarre sexual behaviour”; allegedly after Bobby Brown claimed he saw Michael slap his sisters’ bottom when he was dating Janet Jackson. Do I see this as “bizarre sexual behaviour”? No I do not. My brother used to do the same to me when we were growing up – and has done it in adulthood. It’s called “sibling ribbing.” Is my own brother therefore a sexual predator simply because he exhibited the exact same behaviour? No he isn’t. But then again; if I was to think along the same lines as the tabloid media – my brother is not an eccentric pop star, desperate to protect his privacy.

I digress.

The real reason for my intense anger at this article was the venom behind it. It is not simply a case of printing ridiculous lies about Michael. This article goes beyond that. It ventures into slander and defamation territory and beyond. I will even go so far as to say that it was less of a news item and more of a personal attack against Michael – and let’s remember that Michael is sadly not here to defend himself. Whoever wrote this article; their hatred and bitterness; to a point of a vendetta against Michael was immediately apparent. Reading between the lines (as I often do when I read any news story about Michael); you could see the toxic poison which dripped from every single typed word. This person knew exactly what they were doing and the timing of such an article speaks volumes. Five days before 25th June? Hardly a coincidence. I do not know who was behind it. That information was omitted from publishing…how convenient.

Oh and just for good measure; the article gives a thinly veiled suggestion that more accusations and civil lawsuits should be brought against Michael. “Anything for money” perhaps?

Why are these articles now cropping up almost 7 years after Michael left us? Because of the civil lawsuit happening in 2017. And if you think this one was bad; wait for the next one and the one after that. They will get worse especially from a site which is known for being very anti-Michael Jackson.

Now it would be so easy to read the offending article, get angry, feel sad for Michael and forget about it. Michael is no longer with us right? Surely it doesn’t matter anymore. WRONG! After reading said article; I took it upon myself to speak to a few fans about it and like me; they are sick, sick, sick of seeing these lies time and time again. And do you know what is more sickening? The fact that the perpetrators of these lies get away with it. Sure; you could contact Radar Online and ask them to retract but it will more than likely be a cold day in hell before they do that. If they are arrogant enough to post this rubbish; they aren’t going to apologize and admit they were out of order. Instead; they’re going to continue posting poison to harm Michael’s reputation, legacy and don’t forget; his children, because they are allowed that “freedom” to do so. How is that right?

It isn’t right and it never will be. Seven painful years have passed and even now; the media are still dissecting and mutilating Michael’s good name for profit. If they haven’t stopped after seven years; they aren’t going to stop any time soon. Let’s remember that Michael was and is the most famous person on the planet. His memory will live on for generations to come. And unless we act NOW and do something; so will the defamatory behaviour of the media.

Never has it been more important than now to unite and bring the AdLLaw Initiative to fruition. Should that initiative be passed as a law; then Michael’s reputation and legacy can no longer be tarnished by tabloid vultures. And those who attempt to break the law will be held to account for their actions. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful day when tabloids are no longer allowed to defame the names and reputations of those who are deceased and can’t protect themselves? Act NOW and that day can happen a lot sooner. But for it to happen; it takes more than one person to see it through right to the very end.

Michael spoke often about unity and the importance of uniting together; in order to make a change. He is quite right. There is strength in numbers. One or two can’t make a difference. But one or two million can. We his fans; are known as his “Soldiers of love.” He referred to us as “his soldiers”. He stood in solidarity with his fans and protected them at all costs. “Don’t hurt my fans,” was his message because he loved us equally as much as we love him. Surely if he can stand shoulder to shoulder with us; then we can afford him that same solidarity? This is a time when he need us the most and the coming civil suit will reinforce that over and over. He begged for his day in court; he had it and he won. Yet that is not enough for some. Hatred against Michael and the fact that he was totally vindicated; is still being fueled by the media and their poisonous articles. Would Michael have stood for it? Hell no! So why are we going to stand for it?

The time has come to stand up for Michael and do all we can to protect his reputation. Stoke that fire in your bellies and think about the pictures of Michael during the 2005 trial. Think about that heart-break you went through when you saw that awful sadness in his eyes. Think about that joy you experienced when Michael was cleared. Both Michael and his fans went through all that together. But unless we take a stand against the media; it will have all been for nothing. No other celebrity has been attacked so cruelly by the media; than Michael Jackson. He lived it throughout his life and it made his life a misery. The coverage of the 2005 trial was dubbed “trial by media”. It should have been dubbed “tried, convicted and hanged” by the media and next year; we will see it all over again. It was awful enough the first time. But the difference is; Michael was able to speak out and defend himself from these stories. This time he isn’t. And that’s why it falls to US to do something TOGETHER.

There is no “I” in “us”. And you can’t spell “unite” without putting “you” n “I” together.

Kerry Ward, MDF Admin

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